More grandparents than ever are stepping up to take care of
and raise their grandchildren. There are many different reasons grandparents are
assuming the role of caretaker.

It may be due to the death or absence of the children’s
parents, the financial situation of the parents, or because of an unsafe home due
to physical abuse or drug/alcohol abuse.

Raising grandchildren brings many rewards, including giving the
children a sense of security, developing a deeper relationship with them, and being
able to keep them with their family instead of possibly going into foster care.
However, this can also be a very difficult venture in a grandparent’s life.

One big obstacle that grandparents often face is how it
affects them financially, especially if there is only one person raising the
children. Of the 2.7 million grandparents raising their grandchildren in the US,
1 million of them are being raised by a single grandmother.

Another obstacle grandparents face is finding access to proper
resources for the children and for themselves. Children being raised by
grandparents have unique needs that may require the use of therapists, school
counselors and health care providers. Grandparents and grandchildren may
benefit from support groups and individual or family therapy to share their
feelings and gain support.

One event that has greatly contributed to the spike in so
many grandparents raising grandchildren is the opioid epidemic. Parental
substance use is the reason 40% of grandchildren go to live with a grandparent.

Children coming from homes where drug use is present are
often exposed to traumatic events, abuse and neglect. This exposure often leads
to behavioral issues in children. Statistics show that on average, children
whose grandparents have custody of them are more likely to have behavioral and
emotional difficulties than those being raised by their parents.

It is very important that grandparents raising grandchildren
take care of themselves mentally, physically, and spiritually, as it is vital
to their overall health and their ability to raise healthy children. It is also
important to acknowledge and accept all feelings, both positive and negative.

It’s difficult to admit feelings such as resentment, guilt,
fear, or doubt. It’s natural to have a mixture of feelings when unexpected
responsibilities arise in life, but it doesn’t take away from the feelings of
love for the grandchildren. It is also important to remember that the
grandchildren will have mixed feelings too.

If you are a grandparent struggling to find support in your
community, you can go to www.aarp.org. AARP’s
website offers a comprehensive “Grandfamilies” guide with specific information
on legal documents, finances, health insurance, education, childcare, and many
other things you will need to know to protect your rights and maximize
assistance in caring for your grandkids. Other helpful websites include:

If you are unsure what local therapists or support groups
are available for you or your grandchildren, ask a Youth First Social Worker at your child’s
school (list at youthfirstinc.org) or your primary care physician. Support
makes all the difference!